Bauxite Downstreaming Investment Surpasses Nickel to Claim Top Spot in Indonesia

The realised investment value in the downstreaming of bauxite minerals has displaced nickel’s dominance in the second quarter of 2026. Minister for Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM Rosan Roeslani detailed that realised investment for bauxite reached Rp 40.1 trillion, while nickel fell to second place with Rp 29.4 trillion. Rosan noted a shift in investment realisation between bauxite and nickel, which usually occupies the top position. “If we look at it, nickel has always been number one, but now there is a shift to bauxite. Bauxite is number one, usually it is nickel,” Rosan stated during a press conference at the Presidential office in Jakarta on Thursday (16/7/2026). Rosan explained that the construction of bauxite processing facilities within the country by both domestic and foreign investors caused bauxite to overtake nickel investment in the second quarter of 2026. Nevertheless, throughout the first half of 2026, realised investment entering the nickel downstreaming sector remained dominant, totalling Rp 71 trillion. Bauxite was in second place with Rp 53.8 trillion. Total realised downstreaming investment reached Rp 300.1 trillion during the first half of 2026, equivalent to 29.7 percent of the total investment entering Indonesia, which amounted to Rp 1,010.6 trillion. Meanwhile, total realised downstreaming investment in the second quarter of 2026 reached Rp 152.7 trillion, a 5.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year.